Ofcom set to launch probe into YouView

Regulator Ofcom is believed to be preparing to launch an investigation into
broadcasters' plan to bring iPlayer-like services to televisions across the
country.

Virgin Media has written to Ofcom to demand it investigates YouViewPhoto: Getty Images

By Rupert Neate

6:35AM BST 11 Oct 2010

Ofcom, the communications watchdog, is expected privately to decide on Tuesday that the BBC-led YouView project may stifle competition. The joint venture between the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, BT, TalkTalk and Arqiva has been publicly attacked by Virgin Media, BSkyB and host of other TV companies and pressure groups.

Virgin Media has written to Ofcom to demand it investigates YouView, formerly known as Project Canvas, saying it would "significantly and irreparably harm" the nation's TV industry. "The Canvas partners have significantly exceeded their original claims to be creating a common set of open standards which could have been improved upon by others and are now intent on controlling every aspect of how people watch TV," Virgin said.

"The BBC Trust has already acknowledged, but then completely ignored, the impact that Canvas will have on so many different organisations; from consumer electronics firms to software developers and enterprising new technology manufacturers to independent programme makers."

Neil Berkett, chief executive of Virgin Media, has described the BBC Trust's investigation, which gave the project the green light earlier this year, as a "shameless whitewash".

Last month the Open Source Consortium (OSC), a trade body for companies that work in open standards software, became the latest group to call on Ofcom to investigate YouView, which is due to launch next spring. United for Local Television, IP Vision and Six TV also believe the partners have too much control of the platform, which was originally designed to be open.

Earlier this year the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) said it did not have jurisdiction to investigate the project.

Although Ofcom's board will make a decision on Tuesday, it is unlikely to make its views public until later in the year. An Ofcom spokesman said: "No decision has been taken on whether to investigate the complaints raised about Project Canvas.